Molecular paleopathology and paleo-oncology-State of the art, potentials, limitations and perspectives

The paucity of historic tumor material − particularly when only osseous remains are available − represents the most hindering factor for molecular paleo-oncology. This can only be overcome in future by both the thorough investigation of mummified archaeological biomaterial and the improvement of analytical assays in order to trace even minute amounts of tumor material in osseous lesions.